Hawkeye is an often-underestimated member of the Avengers. He's seen as the guy who uses a bow and arrow to fight off the likes of Thanos, Ultron, and Kang the Conqueror – all of whom are able to shrug off trivial attacks. However, this ignores two things about Hawkeye: Clint Barton's fighting skill and his seemingly endless supply of trick arrows.
Hawkeye's trick arrows used to be a trademark part of his repertoire (much like his DC counterpart, Green Arrow). However, they've seen less use in recent years as Clint relies on putting regular arrows in debilitating-yet-non-lethal parts of an opponent's body. This change is a little disappointing considering the trick arrows were always creative, fun, and useful.
10 His Rocket Arrow Actually Lets The Archer Take Flight
Among the more ridiculous arrows in Hawkeye's quiver (and this is a hero who carries a putty and boomerang arrow), the rocket arrow is an arrow with thrusters attached to the arrowhead. It's powerful enough that both Hawkeye and Captain America are able to take flight while holding onto a rope attached to the arrow.
As bananas as these arrows are, they give Clint Barton the option of airborne mobility in the heat of battle. Although they're incredibly useful on their own, they also deal significant damage to an enemy when fired at them.
9 The Sonic Arrow Can Incapacitate A Wide Variety Of Foes
Hawkeye has an arrow that emits a sonic blast in the surrounding vicinity. It does some physical damage thanks to the burst of air pressure, but it's largely used to immobilize enemies through pain in the inner ear. As a result, it impairs their ability to think clearly.
Ironically, Hawkeye developed hearing issues after a showdown with the villainous Crossfire. So, Clint knows a thing or two about how serious hearing damage can be.
8 An Acid Arrow Can Cause All Sorts Of Problems For Evil-Doers
Another severe addition to Hawkeye's quiver is the acid arrow. This is an arrow with a container full of acid on the arrowhead, which shatters open on impact. Needless to say, this could do intense damage to a human being. Thankfully, Clint is level-headed enough to primarily use this weapon against objects and vehicles.
With more sophisticated electronics (such as a run-of-the-mill doomsday device), an acid arrow can shut the whole system down by dissolving the circuits and wires. As a result, it's been a useful trick arrow for Hawkeye over the years.
7 The Ice/Freeze Arrow Has Stopped Many Enemies From Advancing
This ice/freeze arrow has a solution inside the arrowhead that, upon breaking open, freezes much of the surrounding area from the point of detonation. This can immobilize foes in their tracks or shut down potentially dangerous weapons and electronics.
A famous use of this arrow comes from outside the comics in the Avengers Assemble cartoon. Hawkeye and the Falcon were facing down a swarm of Chitauri warriors when Hawkeye used this arrow to flash-freeze the oncoming Chitauri – effectively pacifying them.
6 His Shock Arrow Is Pretty Devastating In Many Situations
Clint's shock/taser arrow is another pretty strong option in his quiver. In past stories, this arrow has fried electronics and stunned enemies into submission.
How Hawkeye makes such arrows is explained by the company he keeps. He's had the technical expertise of Iron Man, Hank Pym, Black Widow, and S.H.I.E.L.D around him for his entire superhero career. Consequently, this gives Hawkeye an edge when it comes to collecting sophisticated electronics.
5 The Pym Particles Arrow Can Be Used For All Sorts Of Threats
Minor spoilers for Hawkeye on Disney Plus ahead. In the third episode of the season, Hawkeye unleashes a Pym Particle arrow. For those unfamiliar, the Pym Particles are what Hank Pym and Scott Lang use to shrink and grow as Ant-Man and Giant-Man respectively.
The Pym Particles contained in the arrow allow Hawkeye to shrink or grow a target. However, it can also be used to shrink or grow the arrow itself if need be.
4 An Adamantium/Vibranium-Tipped Arrow Can Shoot Through Almost Anything
Hawkeye used arrows in the comics with a head made of both Adamantium and Vibranium. These are two of the hardest materials on the planet. They've been used in various incarnations of Captain America's shield, the Adamantium coating Wolverine's skeleton, and the Vibranium in Black Panther's costume.
Both metals have more or less the same result: an arrow that can pierce just about anything. As a result, this is an arrow so sharp and dangerous that it could potentially pierce Thanos' hide. The energy-disrupting nature of Vibranium potentially gives that version of this arrow more versatility than the Adamantium counterpart.
3 His EMP-Arrow Can Put More Dangerous Threats Out Of Commission Immediately
This is a similar concept to the shock/taser arrow, but the EMP arrow can do exponentially more damage. Where the shock arrow disrupts electronics upon making contact with them, the EMP (or electromagnetic pulse) arrow shuts down electronics across a greater radius.
With android enemies like Ultron and the Super-Adaptoid frequently threatening the Avengers, being able to pull the plug on electronic devices at will is a useful option that can quickly save the day.
2 Just Putting Ant-Man On An Arrow Makes It A Pretty Powerful Trick Arrow
This isn't a trick arrow in the traditional sense. However, it's one of the most famous Avengers team-ups. During a showdown with Taskmaster in Avengers #223 by David Michelinie, Greg LaRocque, Brett Breeding, and Joe Rubinstein, Hawkeye has Ant-Man climb onto an arrowhead that he fires to catch Taskmaster off-guard. This trick was immortalized in the iconic cover by Ed Hannigan and Klaus Janson, and it was recreated in the film Captain America: Civil War.
This isn't a trick arrow Hawkeye can use all the time. Nevertheless, it's one of the best trick arrows Hawkeye has ever used.
1 Hawkeye's Explosive-Tip Arrow Once Shattered A Vast Alien Structure
Hawkeye's explosive arrows are among his most famous and commonly-used trick arrows, but that doesn't make them any less powerful. They work as long-range explosive weapons capable of stunning larger and more powerful foes like Absorbing Man and the Wrecking Crew.
One of the most impressive uses of the explosive trick arrow comes from Secret Wars #4 by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck. A giant alien structure was dropped on the heroes, and the object was so large it covered the landscape around them. In response, Hawkeye fires a trick arrow that splits the structure in two and allows the rest of the heroes to dispose of the smaller pieces.